Country Music's Top And Rising Stars Lead ACM Award Nominations

March 4, 2008 07:15 PM EDT

Nominations have been announced for the 43rd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. Winners will receive their awards during the event to be broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, May 18 at 8 p.m.ET/delayed PT on CBS.

The nominees were announced at a press conference held today at the Ford Theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville. Participating in the press conference were multi-platinum recording artists Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, the Academy’s current Top Male Vocalist and Top Female Vocalist. Paisley and Underwood read nominations live during a CBS 'The Early Show' broadcast, which also included live performances by Rodney Atkins and Miranda Lambert, the Academy’s reining Top New Male Vocalist and Top New Female Vocalist, respectively.

It was also announced that for the first time in Academy of Country Music history, fans will choose the winner of the Academy’s highest honor, Entertainer of the Year. Fan voting begins May 5 and more details on how to participate will be announced at a later date.

This morning Kenny Chesney led with eleven nominations, including Entertainer of the Year and Top Male Vocalist. In addition, Chesney was nominated as an artist and producer for Album of the Year for Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates, Single Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Video of the Year for “Don’t Blink.” If Chesney wins Entertainer of the Year, it will be his fourth consecutive win.

Rodney Atkins is nominated for six awards including Top Male Vocalist. He is also nominated for Song of the Year and Video of the Year for “Watching You” and Album of the Year for If You’re Going Through Hell. He won Top New Male Vocalist last year.

Brad Paisley is nominated in four categories, including Entertainer of the Year, Top Male Vocalist, Album of the Year for 5th Gear and Video of the Year for “Online.” Last year, Paisley won Top Male Vocalist.

Big & Rich received four nominations including Top Vocal Duo and, for the song "Lost in this Moment," Single Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Video of the Year. John Rich is nominated for a producer and writer award, and Big Kenny is nominated for two producing awards.

Sugarland was also nominated for four awards including Top Vocal Duo, and for the song “Stay,” Single Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Video of the Year. Jennifer Nettles also received two nominations for writing and producing, and Kristian Bush received one for producing.

Miranda Lambert and Taylor Swift received three nominations each. Both received nominations this year for Top Female Vocalist. Lambert was also nominated for her album Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and for Single Record of the Year for "Famous in a Small Town." She was last year's Top New Female Vocalist. Swift was also nominated this year for Top New Female Vocalist and her album Taylor Swift was nominated for Album of the Year.

Members of the Academy of Country Music select the nominees and winners of the Academy of Country Music Awards, including selection of the final top five nominees of the Entertainer of the Year category. This year, for the first time ever, fans will have the opportunity to select the winner from the Entertainer of the Year nominees (more information to be released at a later date). Presenters and performers who will appear on the special will be announced.

Following is the list of final nominees in the 13 categories voted on by the membership. Winners in each of the following categories will be presented with an Academy of Country Music Award during the live television broadcast:

SINGLE RECORD OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]- Don’t BlinkKenny Chesney, Produced by Buddy Cannon, Kenny ChesneyBNA- Famous In A Small TownMiranda Lambert, Produced by Frank Liddell, Mike Wrucke Columbia- Lost In This MomentBig & Rich, Produced by Big Kenny, John RichWarner Bros/WRN- StaySugarland, Produced by Kristian Bush, Byron Gallimore, Jennifer NettlesMercury- Watching AirplanesGary Allan, Produced by Gary Allan , Mark Wright MCA Nashville